Author's Note: Yuuki~desu! Obviously, I'm back. And not so obviously, I didn't have much time to write while I was gone, so I don't think there will be another chappie until next week... Try to not hate me too much, okay? Don't forget to review!

Chapter 14: Hidden Behind The Glass Mask

In the end, I didn't tell them about my relation to Natsu. It would only make them more confused and it wouldn't be fair to the still sleeping fire mage if the others knew and he himself was in the dark. So I kept my mouth tightly shut and tried my best to answer all of Wendy's, Gajeel's and Levy's questions.

"Who's the eldest of you sisters?" asked Levy and I sighed miserably. I really didn't want them to know how old I was. It would change their opinion of me and the way they talked to me.

"Grandine. She's 10 years older than me and 137 years older than Metalicana." I was glad I thought of that answer. That way they won't exactly know my age or the fact I had one more sister. I grinned inwardly at my cleverness. That is, until the next question came.

"So how old are you?" This time it was Gajeel. He tried not to look too interested in my answer but failed.

That much for hiding my age. If I wanted them to trust me completely, I had to answer them truthfully. That decision is already making me miserable.. What will be next?.

"Let me see... About... 3357 years?"

Gray almost choked at my response and Wendy's eyes widened so much, I thought they would pop out of their sockets. Gajeel was hectically looking from me to Metalicana and back, undoubtedly going through all the equations in his head in an attempt to find out Metalicana's age.

"We're sorry for being so rude to you, ancient lady..." told me Happy in one of his innocent sounding voices.

I'm not very touchy about my age but Happy crossed the line. Sure, I could understand why he was apologizing, but he practically called me walking mummy!

"I. AM. NO. ANCIENT. LADY!" I didn't yell but that wasn't much of a plus. It sounded pretty scary even to my own ears.

The blue cat started sobbing, which made me feel like a criminal who stole candy from a kid.

"I'm so sorry, Happy. It's fine. Just act like you have before." I looked at the teary-eyed Exceed and slowly pulled him to me for a hug. "I'm not mad at you." He nodded and wiped his face with the back of his paw, doing his best to look as if nothing happened.

I didn't let go of him as I turned to others. "Do you have any more questions? I don't mind if you do, you know. I just think it would be better to carry on the conversation somewhere else. It's going to be dark soon."

Gray looked at me confused. "But the sun is still up. It doesn't even look like it's going to set any time soon."

"It doesn't set," I explained. "This world is kind of artificial. Some essential things are missing in here. Sunset is one of them."

"Then why did you say it's going to get dark?"

"Because Dragon of Darkness will bring the night any minute now. It's his job to block the sun rays from 9 pm 'till 6 am. Just like Grandine is responsible for circulation of air, Wallaia for the flow of rivers and Igneel for heating up the ground, since the sun only provides light in this dimension."

"Everything in here... Was made by dragons?" Erza questioned with disbelief in her voice and Mettie eagerly answered her.

"Yes. It's a very fragile ecosystem, but it works."

"Unbelievable." breathed out Levy.

I shrugged. "I guess it is... I've lived in this world for 1439 years. You kind of get used to it after all that time."

"Yeah." Agreed Mettie with a suspicious glint in her eyes. I bet she's remembering THAT day. I smirked and shook my head at her. "This isn't the right time." Her smile faded a bit at my telepathic message. "Fine. You can tell them when we're at my place, 'kay?" The moment that thought left my mind,Metalicana started humming some cheerful melody. I am so going to regret this...

It was time to discuss official business.

"Natsu Dragneel, Wendy Marvell, Gajeel Redfox, Erza Scarlet, Gray Fullbuster, Levy McGarden, Jet , Droy, Happy, Carla, Pantherlily. All of you are my precious guests, therefore it is my duty to protect you and take you under my roof. Do you accept my offer of safe haven?" The formulation was pretty stupid, but it was an ancient dragon tradition and I wasn't about to disrespect wishes of my ancestors because of its archaic sound.

"What do you mean 'under your roof'?" Levy wasn't stupid. She felt the slightest twinge of magic that accompanied my words.

"My lair. A cave." I got odd looks.

From my times spent with them, I knew Fairy Tail members felt better sleeping under the stars, not in secluded areas. But I couldn't let them refuse my offer. If I let them sleep outside, it would mean they refused my protection. Any of the dragons could hurt them then. Not like my people would like to do so... They would have no choice. They know very well we can't let people who don't trust us and saw us, roam free.

That was why I cringed at her question. "Please. Say yes." I whispered. I don't want to be responsible for your death.

"I would love to." said Wendy, pleading with her eyes for others in her team to do the same. Grandine must have told her.

Erza was about to refuse. I saw it in her eyes. "I won't take you to Igneel, if you don't accept." Blackmailing is for losers. And at that moment, I had every right to act like one.

"I didn't see you like one who uses such cheap tricks to get what you want." She sounded disappointed in me. If I was full Lucy, not Luciana, I would beg her for forgiveness.

I am Luciana and I'll act accordingly. With that, I held her gaze the whole time she was glaring at me.

"Alright. If you give me your word you'll take us to Igneel tomorrow, I will accept."

Smart. And fair.

"I, Luciana, The Dragon Queen, give you my word I will take you to Igneel the next morning, if you accept my hospitality."

"Very well. I accept." I was relieved she peacefully complied. If she didn't, no one would. No matter the fact it was called Team Natsu, the leader will always be Titania.

Once they all followed her example, I opened another portal. This time, it led straight to my lair.

I entered first and lit the torches, which I considered useless with my perfect night vision, but had them anyway. Only then did the 'fairies' go after me.

"Creepy." said Jet. I growled a bit at him though he was right. The flames illuminating the cave were flickering too much, creating mysterious shadows on the walls.

"Follow me," I said simply. It sounded rude and I didn't care. It couldn't make them dislike me more than my earlier stunt with blackmail.

It kind of hurt to feel the irritated stares of my former teammates on my back. More so when it were most of them, not only Natsu.

I cast a quick glance the pinkette's way. He was soundly snoring, thoroughly lost in his peaceful dreams, all while he was hanging on Gray's shoulder. The Ice mage didn't seem to care that his rival was using him as a pilllow and continued carrying him.

We were silent during the journey. Somehow it didn't fit the image of Fairy Tail and made me annoyed. Great Will help me, I miss their arguments.

It took us a while to reach the main part of my lair, the Glass Dome. It was also the biggest open area in my cave.

I intended to make the humans (along with my two stepsisters, who refused to leave) sleep there, while I myself would have some rest in my personal bedroom, the one no one knew of. I didn't realize how tired I was until I thought of my sweet Amethyst Castle and the dragon-sized bed in it...

I shook my head and looked around. While I was thinking lovingly of my bed, humans were admiring the Glass Dome. As its name says, its whole interior is made of raw glass. The roof, the walls, even the stalagmites. No matter how impossible it may seem, the dome is natural part of the cave.

I created it because I really needed something extraordinary to admire to take my mind off my loneliness and boredom. Two of the biggest emotions I felt my whole life...

Obviously, those days are a distant past. Now, I had 14 visitors standing before me and I felt psychically exhausted. Something I haven't felt before I entered Fairy Tail.

It was really late and moon started peeping around the edge of the roof, reminding me I had to explain the bed arranging. "Mettie, you can have the Emerald Salon. Grandine... It's up to you. Would you rather sleep in Ruby Room or Sapphire Tower?" Her impossibly wide smile revealed most of her razor sharp teeth, which glinted in the light of torches. "Ruby." Thought so.

"You guys... I'm sorry but you'll have to stay here. I don't have enough rooms." I was a bit embarrassed at the lie. There still was my Amethyst Castle, complex of 38 rooms out of which 20 were empty. It was selfish of me but I wasn't about to tell them about my top secret hiding place just to let them spent the night in more comfort.

"It's not like they're going to sleep, Nee-chan. It'll take a while to tell them ALL your embarrassing stories." I groaned. Mettie was going to forever ruin my reputation as the fearful Dragon Queen. And in just one night.

"Suit yourself. It's not like you will listen to my pleas not to tell them." She laughed victoriously as I tiredly waved my hand in air, opening 12 Dark Windows. The moment they were big enough, beds dropped out of them, making a circle in the centre of the room. The mini portals closed as soon as they accomplished their mission, beds being the only evidence of their earlier appearance.

"Good night." I wished no one in particular and teleported instantly to my office. I sat down on an antigue armchair I got from the Spirit King and started crying.

Ace-niisan... Why? Why did you leave me?...